DWAW vs VYM
Advisorshares Dorsey Wright Fsm All Cap World Etf vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DWAW or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DWAW led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | DWAW | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.23% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $93M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.68% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 7 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +14.91% | +15.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.46%Best | +22.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.05% | +18.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.27% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -31.6%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,203 | $17,734Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 25.9% |
| Fund Family | Advisor Shares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Dec 26, 2019 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 27, 2019 to Sep 3, 2026 (6.7 years).
DWAW vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 6.7 years both funds cover.
DWAW vs VYM Performance
Advisorshares Dorsey Wright Fsm All Cap World Etf (DWAW) is an ETF from Advisor Shares and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DWAW returned +23.46% while VYM returned +22.23%. Year to date, DWAW is up 14.91% versus a gain of 15.29% for VYM.
Over three years, DWAW compounded at +18.05% per year against +18.81% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +7.27% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, DWAW has the edge at +11.97% annualized vs +11.42%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DWAW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 15.6% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -31.6% for DWAW and -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DWAW charges 1.23% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $123 vs $4 annually, a gap of $119 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DWAW currently yields 0.68% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 6 holdings in DWAW and 603 in VYM, totalling 100.1% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, DWAW as of Aug 17, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 6 positions we hold weights for in DWAW and 603 in VYM, against full books of 7 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for DWAW (97.4% of the fund), and 6 for DWAW that do not appear in VYM (100.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DWAW and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DWAW or VYM?
DWAW has an expense ratio of 1.23% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $119 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DWAW or VYM?
Over the past year DWAW returned +23.46% vs +22.23% for VYM, so DWAW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), DWAW annualized +11.97% vs +11.42% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DWAW or VYM?
DWAW has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 15.6% for VYM. Worst drawdown: DWAW -31.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both DWAW and VYM?
DWAW and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DWAW or VYM?
DWAW yields 0.68% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DWAW?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DWAW led over 1Y and the full window, VYM over 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.